preus



P. A; PREUS v `April 26, 1932. l HIGHWAY SIGN- Re. 18,438

Original Filed Apil 16. .1950 2 SheetS-Sheec' l Reissued Apr. 26,'1932UNITEDl STATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL A. PREU-S. F TAGOIMIA, WASHINGTON,ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN STAMPING UFACTURING COMPANY, OF'CLEVELAND, OHIO, ACORPORATION OF MINNESOTA HIGHWAY SIGN origina No. 1,817,646, datedaugura; 4, 1931, serial No. 444,673, mea april 16, 1930.

. reissue ledDecember 21,

This invention relates to a highway sign of the type having a series ofreflecting units adapted to throw back rays received from an automobileheadlight and thereby warn the driver. The'object of the invention is toprovide a very simple and eliicient case for carrying the reflectingunits suitably grouped either as 'a general warning panel or in theoutline of suitable letters, as for example the word-Stop or Danger. p

As illustrations of my invention, I have selected two embodiments whichare shown in lthe drawings hereof, and are hereinafter more fullydescribed, while the essential nov-` shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is asectional'rear elevation of the reflecting panel of this sign, the planeof the section being indicated-by the line 3 3 on Fig. 2; Figs. 4 and 5are respectively a side elevation and face view 'of an elastic washerwhich may be used for snugly positioning` the\individual reflectors inthe reflecting panel Figa 6"isa detail illustrating locking bolts whichassist in making a unit of the reflecting portion ofthe sign; Fig. 7 isa, front elevation on a smaller scale of one form ,of c'onpletesign;-Fig.' 8 is a larger view'in front elevation vof' another form ofcomplete sign; Figs. 9 .and 10 are respective-ly a verticalmsection-anda horizontal section on correspondingly numbered lines on Fig. 8)' K y lReferring first to the embodimentof Figs.

`1 to 7 inclusive, 1 indicates asuitable back The casing lO'is shown asmounted centrally onthe panel 1, which provides the back of the casingwhile leavingan' exposed marginal Mregion ofithe panel on which anysuitable words may Abe displayed. The re'iecting units',`-may, ifdesired, be of a red color, and

.the casing 10 may be red, sot-'hat the whole 1931. Serial No. 582,481.

Application for' central region presents a red glare to the approachingautomobile.

The reflecting units 20, as illustrated in the I drawings, are a typecommon on the market, 1 comprising spherical balls which may be ofr redglass and are individually mounted metal housings 21. Each housing isshown as (plortion y just tended inwardly as at 23, and then continuingin a slightly conical portion 24 terminati ing in a dish-shaped base 25.This prqyides an annular shoulder to co-a'ct withammtermediate platehaving openings to receive the smaller portion of the housing, ashereinafter more fully described. The surface of the base 25 acts as areiiector tending to increase the reflection from the unit. Y y

In my invention, I take a number of units as described and effectivelymount them in the casing and hold them in place therein -without dangerof breaking the glass balls. To this end, I vform through the face ofthe casing 10, a series of holes 12 of smaller diameter than the balls,and I provide a plate walls 21 of the unit housings, this platetherefore coacting vwith the shoulders on the units. Between the housingshoulder and the face of the positioning plate 30,I place, around themetal housing of each unit, a cushioning washer 40. This cushioningwasher allows the positioningplate 30 to be bolted effectively to thecasing front plate without danger-.of injuring the reflecting units and.with the assurance that they will be tightly held in place.

The washer 40 'is shown in detail in Figs. 4

acl

`and 5, and comprises an vannular member which 1s made smuous 1n aclrcumferentlal manner as shown. This washer may readily beniade ofspringmetal, and thus is sufficiently lyielding and operates to maintainthe reflecting ball snugly in the opemng 12 l of the casing front.,

The casing, the' positioning plate, the refleeting units and theyielding washers are Yready for mounting all secured togetherv by anysuitable means into one unitary device. For this purpose, I have shownbolts passin through the two plates. In Figs. 1 and 6, have indicatedtwo of such bolts Icomprising a threaded shank 50 equipped with asquared portion 51 and a rounded head 52. vAs a nut for such bolt, I mayprovide a m'emberhaving an internally threaded sleeve 53 and a roundedhead 54 provided with a suitable notch or notches. This nut member isshown as rotatably mounted in the plate 30.

In assembling` the members of the entire reflecting device, using theparts described,

.the reflecting units may be placed in the holes/ 12 in the casingfront, while the same is'held horizontal, then the washers may be put onthe shoulders of the unit housingsandthe plate put intoposition.Thebolts 50vmay then be passed .through the front and the nuts screwedin `from the back. This makes a complete assembledv reiiecting memberalone or on a sign panel as illustrated in Fig. 7.

I have illustrated a specific form of re'-` ectin unit nwhich I havefound satisfactory. owever, it should be noted, that one of theadvantages of my sign is that various shapes and sizes of reflectingunits may be employed. By making'the holes in the positioning plateinregistration with thev holes in the front plate, I am enabled to holdsuch different `umts so that they will be maintained in position to bevisible through the openings in the front plate. It is convenient tohave the holes in the positioning plate of the same size as those in thefront plate, but

`this is not necessary, as registration of the centers or correspondingpoints in the two sets of holes may be' sufficient to insure properpositioning the units. As shown in Fig.

2, the positioning the border flange o identical plate shown might beused with plate stands well within larger units, by simply standingfarther back in the casing.

My reflecting device may be mounted on thesign panel 1 by any suitablemeans, as forinstance bolts passingthrough the casing 10. I have shownthree of these through bolts, indicated at 55, having heads. 56 o n the`front of theV casingand extending through the positioning late wherethey firfst receive nuts 57 (Fig. 2 l clamped against the back v of suchplate and extend beyond such nuts to pass through the sign panel 1,inally'carriying nuts 58 holding the reflecting device to t e signpanel.

I have indicated at 60 a metal' supporting ost'for the sign having afront Wall or gauge 61. I have shown in Fig. 2 the.bolts. 55 passingthrough this front Wall, so that these same bolts hold the casing Atothe sign panel and both the casing andy panel tothe the casing, and thusthe In Figs. 8, 9 and 10, I4 have illustrated my invention embodied ina-sign Where the re-` llectin units are the same as already describe butare grouped in the form of certain letters, as for instance Ythe lettersvmaking the Word Stop. The outline of these letters is preferably mademore definite, either by embossing them on the panel, or distinctivelypainting them, or both.

In this second embodiment, I "make the front of the casing for therefiecting units.

and the marginal sign proper in one plane;

that is to say, the central zone of the front plate designatedconstitutes the front of the casing for the reflecting units, while themarginal portions' 71 and 72- are parts of the sign beyond thereflecting region. I provide behind the group .of reflecting units asuitable box-like casing 8Ov having edge flangesv 81 which abut the backof the front panel, the casing being held to the panel by bolts andnuts. The bolts are shownas passing through the` back 80 of the casingand receiving nuts 86 which are screwed onto the bolts in front of thefront plate 70.

The reflecting. units 20 are carried in the sign just described in thesame manner as already explained; that is to say, the glassspheresvproject partially` through openings in the front plate 70 andthe reduced Shanks of the individual housings for these spheres extendthrough a'positioniug plate 90, with intermediate sinuous spring washers40. The plate 90vmay be held in proper relation to thefront plate byanysuitable means; I have shown screws 9 1 passing through the plate-90into internally threaded stirrups 92 which are electrically welded tothe back of the front plate 70. In thisr` manner, the relecting unitsare effectively held in place on the (front plate before the casing v8()is apphe I 'have shown the vsign of'Fig. 8 secured to a suitable post 60by means of bolts 95 passing through the panel portions 71,l 72 andthrough intermediate distance passes 96 and receiving units 97 behind afront wall 61 of the post. A

. It will be noticed that the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 isin a sense a reversal' of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2;

rso

that is to say, in Figs. 8 and 9 the main panel.

constitutes the front of the casing for the units, the Wall of whichabuts the rear face of the panel, While in Figs. 1 and 2 the main panelconstitutes the backypof the casing, the casing wall abutting the frontof'this panel. 'In either case there is the intermediate late, whichpositions the units by'reason ci) embracing a smaller portion thereofand bearing' against a shoulder provided by a larger of its largerportions being clamped bythe positioning p ate and the'plate on theother side of such larger portion.

portion, the unit being confine-d by reason e -wiu'be See'n that in bothof the inastra edembodiments of my invention the reflecting units aresimilarly held in position in registration with openin s in the metalfront. to be rounded and project throl'lgh and beyond theopenings in thefront plate, this is not strictly necessary, provided they are in such'registration with the openings as to receive the rays of light thrown-onthe sign front. I find it very convenient` in manu- \facture to make theopenings in the frontl and the corresponding openings through thepositioning plate of the same diameter, as thus both sets of openingsmay bemade by the same tool and absolute re 'stration at the front andrear insured. L y method of holding the reflecting units causes th'em tobel retained firmly in place without danger of breakage. Should,however, one be broken by external means, it is a simple matter toseparate the casing and replace any broken unit.

1. A highway sign, comprising a front plate having a. series of holesthrough it,

a back plate, a surrounding annular Wall connecting the front andback'plates, reflecting units registering With-the holes in the frontplate, an intermediate plate having a set of holes embracing therespective units,

Vand means for holding all of the parts together.

2. In a sign of the character described, the combination of a frontplate having openings therein, reflecting unitszeach having areflectortion and a casing with a reduced shan a plate at the rear ofthe ront plate having openings positioned with reference to those of thefront plate, said units being mounted between the plates withthereiiecting portion registering with the front plate and the Shanksextending through thesecond 'mentioned plate, and means for holding thefrontand the rear plate together.

3. In a lsign of the character described, the combination of a :frontplate having a series of round openings therein,- a plate at the rear ofthe front plate having openings correspondinglyv positloned, a. seriesof reiecting units each comprisinga glass ball and a metal housingwhichembraces the ball and-then has an inwardly directed shoulder and'then a.pro'ecting shank, sinuous 'washers embracing t e Shanks, the glass ballsprojecting through the openings in -the'fron-.t plate and the Shanksbehind the Washers projecting through openings in the second mentionedplate, and means for holding-the plates toi gether with the sinuouswashers under constraint to vmaintain the glass balls tight in4 theopenings ofthe front plate.

4:. In a sign of the character described, the

A combination of a casing and a group of reflecting units therein, thecasing having a While it is preferab e lfor the units- 'series'ofopeningsthrough its front, a plate behind the reliecting units withcorrespondingly positioned openings, the unitsregistering with the frontopenings and extending through the openings in the late at the rearthereof, and means-for holdlng together'the front and back of thecasing, said sign having -a panel extending be 0nd the region oftherreflecting portion an adapted to carry suitable indicia on such marginalportion.

5. In a sig'nof the character-described, the

combination lof a'l series of reflecting units, an enclo'sln casingtherefor havmg a front 4member, a ack member and a'surroundmg wall, thefront member of the casing having openings, an intermediate plate withinthe casing having openings in registration with openings in the frontmember, the reflecting units being within the casing andprbjectingthrough the front member thereof and having portions projecting throughthe intermediate plate, vmeans .forholding the intermediate plate infixed relation to the front member and back member, and means forholding such'entire group in a certain region of a sign panel whichhasmarginal portions for suitable indicia.

6. In a sign of the character described, the combination of a seriesofreflecting units, an enclosing casing therefor having a front member, abaek'member and a surrounding wall, the wallgbeing formed integral withone of said members and at' its free edge abutting the othermember,the.front member of the casing having openings, an intermediateplate Within the casing having openings in -registration with openingsin the front member, the reflecting units front member and Shanksprojecting'through the intermediate plate, meansfor holding'theintermediate plate to the front member to confine the refleetin units asa =g`roup,\ and means for mount-mg the entire reflecting device.

7; Ina sign of the character described, the combination of' a panelmember carrying suitable sign indicia and having a group ofopeningst'herein, a member at the rear thereof having `openingscorresponding in position to the openings in the panel member, a

lurality of reflecting units, said units pro- Ject'ing through the panelopenings and having housings with sha'nksprojecting through Vthe rearmember, vmeans for securing the .plrojectin'g through the aving housingswith ils bpemganfenclosing casing for said. j

' reflecting units in place, and a box-like memv .ber associated withthe back of the panel of the units andl positioned between the plates,

member for enclosing said reflecting units.

' 9; In a sign of the character described, the combination of a panelmember, a ser-ies of reflecting units, an enclosingcasing for saidunits, said easing having a front member and a side wall formed integraltherewith, the front member having a plurality of openings, a platemember within thecasing having opemngs in registration with the openingsin the front member, the reflecting units projecting through the frontmember and having housings with Shanks projecting through the platemember, means for holding the plate member to the panel member, toconfine the reflecting units as a group, said mea-ns acting also as ameans for mounting the casing to thepanel member. n

10. A sign having a groupv of reflecting units, said units each having areflecting por' tion .and a casing with a reduced shank, a front platewith openings registering with thevunits, a plate at the rear of thefront plate, means for' securing the plates together, and yieldingwashers surrounding the Shanks said washers being adapted to protect there' fleeting units when the two plates are secured together, as well asto securely hold them against the front plate.

11. In a sign ofthe character described, the combination vof a frontplate having openings therein, reflecting vunits each having areflecting portion and a casing with a. reduced shank, a plate at therear of the front plate having openings positioned -with ref erence tothose of the front plate, said units being mounted between the plateswith the reflecting portions extending through-the front y plate and theShanks of the casing extending through ,the rear plate, means forholding the plates together, .and ielding washers sur'- roundingl theshanks etween the shoulders thereon and the rear plate, whereby there-vfleeting units are protected from injury,but at ,the same time securelyheld against the front late. A.

12. n a sign of the character described, the combination of a frontplate having openings, a series of reflecting units each-com,- prising aglass' ball and a metal housing with a reduced shank, a plate at therear of the front plate having openings registering with those of thefront plate, the glass balls extending partially through the openingsinthe front plate and the shank extending through the openings in therear plate, means -for holding the front and rearl plates together andyielding washers surrounding the shanks between the shoulders thereonand the rearplate, to protect the glass balls from injuries,- as well asl'to hold them securely against the front plate.

13. In a sign of the character described, the

combination yof a front plate, having open'- ings, reflecting unitspositioned behind the front plate and registering with the openingstherein, said reflecting units having reduced,

Shanks uand shoulders caused by said reduction, and means for holdingthe units in place, including sinuous washers surrounding the shanksandadapted to act upon the shoulders thereof anda plate against which thewashers bear. f y

14.- Ina sign, the combination of a front plate, having openings throughit, an im- -perforate back plate suitably connected to theffront plateand spaced some distance bef hind it, reflecting 'units housed betweenthe front and back plates and comprising glass members registering withthe openings through the front plate and housings secured to the glassmembers "and forming reflectors behind/them, and a perforated platebetween the front and back plates coacting with the housings forpositioning the units.

l5. *In a sign, the combination of a fronti plate' having openings throuh it, a back plate, an annular wall leading rom one plate to the otherto surround an open space' between them, reflecting units between theplates having glass front portions registering with the openings in thefront plate and having housings at their rear providing internalreflectors and external shoulders, and a perfo-k rated positioning platebetween the plates mentioned embracing the units and coacting y withsaid shoulders. v i

16. In a sign of the character described, the combination of a frontplate having a series of round openings therein, a series ofreflectingunits each comprising a glass ball of greater diameter thanthe corresponding v opening in the front plate, and a metal housingwhich embraces the ball a'ndthen has an inwardlyl directed shoulder andthen a propartly through the openings in the .front plate` and a platehaving openings surrounding the shanks and engaging the shoulders tomaintain thecglass balls in the openings ofAthe front plate.. j

17. In a sign, thecombination of a front plate having a series ofopenings through it,

'a series of reflecting units, each comprising a glass portion withaconvex front of greater diameter than the corresponding opening in zjecting shank, the glassballs projecting only i the front plate andhaving a reduced .rear

shank providing a rearwardly facing annular shoulder, and a plate behindthe front platey having openings surrounding the shanks of 4,the units,the last mentioned plate, coacting with the annular shoulders oftheunits to hold them with a portion only of their con-v vex frontsprojecting through the openings 'of the front plate.

Signed at Tacoma, Washington., this 11th day of December, 1931. v

l, PAUL AUPREUS.

